Living Together - Diversity and Freedom in Europe

Living Together - Diversity and Freedom in Europe

In co-operation with the Turkish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers (November 2010 – May 2011), Thorbjørn Jagland has proposed to create a Group of Eminent Persons in order to prepare a report within the context of the Pan-European project ''Living together in 21st century Europe'', on the challenges arising from the resurgence of intolerance and discrimination in Europe.

The group consists of 9 high-ranking individuals with a specific expertise and a particular interest in the subject. Joschka Fischer is the Chairman. Edward Mortimer is the rapporteur responsible for preparing the draft report.

In the first part of its report and referring to the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Group highlights eight specific risks to traditional Council of Europe values:

rising intolerance ;

rising support for xenophobic and populist parties ;

discrimination ;

the presence of a population virtually without rights ;

parallel societies ;

Islamic extremism ;

loss of democratic freedoms ;

a possible clash between "religious freedom" and freedom of expression.

The responseThe response

In the second part of its report, the Group begins by setting out 17 principles which it believes should guide Europe's response to these threats, starting with the statement that "at a minimum, there needs to be agreement that the law must be obeyed, plus a shared understanding of what the law is and how it can be changed".

It then goes on to identify the main actors able to bring about the necessary changes in public attitudes: educators, mass media, employers and trade unions, civil society, churches and religious groups, celebrities and "role models", towns and cities, member states, and European and international institutions.

At a press briefing Secretary General presented the Eminent Persons' report "Living Together – Combining diversity and freedom in 21st-century Europe", with the participation of Emma Bonino. ( more... )

While welcoming the report of the Group of Eminent Persons on "Living together – Combining diversity and freedom in 21st-century Europe", the Assembly today encouraged politicians and elected representatives at all levels to speak out on the challenges raised at present "by the threats to the European project and solidarity".
Europe is multicultural and European peoples have proved their...